[MissCharlotte]

Yesterday in session T mentioned synchronicity. He said it's like when women are in college together and they get their period at the same time. But we were talking about it in relation to moods. I have had a rough week (see my other posts) and have been very depressed. My son is also depressed right now and T was wondering aloud about the relationship between the two. He reminded me that the first thing I came to therapy about (two years ago) was when my son was identifying so closely with me.

I wonder if we feed off each other or if one force drives the other or what? Hmmmmmm......

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by MissCharlotte

I wonder if we feed off each other or if one force drives the other or what? Hmmmmmm......

Yes, I think there is something to that. I read an interesting article on that recently. It was research into the contagiousness of happiness. It showed how one person being really happy can spread some of that to their network of friends and family, and then those people, who become happy to a lesser extent, spead it to their networks, etc. It dies out a little with each passage, but they showed diagrams of how far they thought it reached and it was very cool. I don't really know if there is anything to that. I believe they tested for happiness/change in mood by administering a survey. It was an article in the popular press, so it didn't give many details on the study.

I think this describes the study I read about:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/12/05...ocial.network/

It says that sadness also is contagious, but happiness somewhat more so.

[phoenix7]

I think you would have to try to find what the trigger for you and your sons depression - maybe they are the same?

[lifelesstraveled]

Originally Posted by MissCharlotte

Yesterday in session T mentioned synchronicity. He said it's like when women are in college together and they get their period at the same time. But we were talking about it in relation to moods. I have had a rough week (see my other posts) and have been very depressed. My son is also depressed right now and T was wondering aloud about the relationship between the two. He reminded me that the first thing I came to therapy about (two years ago) was when my son was identifying so closely with me.

I wonder if we feed off each other or if one force drives the other or what? Hmmmmmm......

T and I were just talking about this today! she said a study was recently done proving that happiness is contagious Thus, negative energy would have the same effects. We have been trying to figure out ways to improve my mood without meds and she suggested I find positive, happy people to be around. I grew up in house that was not very happy, thus I am not a very happy person. Even my boyfriend is not a very happy person...his negative mood affects me when he's having a crappy day...

Thanks for the article sunrise! I told T i wanted to read about this study...